Golf swing alignment device

ABSTRACT

A golf swing improvement device comprising: a lanyard anchoring portion; and a lanyard; wherein said lanyard is configured to engage with said lanyard anchoring portion; wherein said lanyard anchoring portion is configured to couple with a golf teeing device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility patentapplication Ser. No. 14/579,164, filed on Dec. 22, 2014, titled “GolfTeeing Device”, by co-inventors John Luther Black Jr. and John EfrinCandias, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by thisreference, and to which benefit is claimed. Application Ser. No.14/579,164 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility patent applicationSer. No. 13/918,027, filed on Jun. 14, 2013, titled “Golf TeeingDevice”, by co-inventors John Luther Black Jr. and John Efrin Candias,the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by thisreference, and to which benefit is claimed.

FIELD OF USE

The present disclosure generally relates to devices, methods, andsystems for aligning a golf swing. More specifically, the presentdisclosure relates to devices that engage with a surface, such as anartificial grass golf mat, or a golf tee that may be placed to assist anindividual with improving his or her golf swing.

BACKGROUND

Golf swing improvement devices come in many shapes and sizes. One suchdevice may be a straight edge or marker that aligns a user's swingand/or stance. However, these devices are very bulky and are notconfigured to be used in connection with a golf tee. Thus, what isneeded is a reusable, easy-to-use, inexpensive golf swing improvementdevice that is configured to work with a golf mat or golf teeing device.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS

To minimize the limitations in the cited references, and to minimizeother limitations that will become apparent upon reading andunderstanding the present specification, the following discloses a newand useful golf swing improvement device.

It is an object to provide a golf swing alignment or improvement devicethat connects to a golfing teeing device or golf mat.

It is another object to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art.

These, as well as other components, steps, features, objects, benefits,and advantages, will now become clear from a review of the followingdetailed description of illustrative embodiments, of the accompanyingdrawings, and of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings are of illustrative embodiments, but do not depict allembodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition to or instead ofthe illustrative embodiments. Details that may be apparent orunnecessary may be omitted for the purpose of saving space or for moreeffective illustrations. Some embodiments may be practiced withadditional components or steps and/or without some or all components orsteps provided in the illustrations. When different drawings contain thesame numeral, that numeral refers to the same or similar components orsteps.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a one embodiment of the golf swingimprovement device attached to a golf teeing device.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of another embodiment of the golf swingimprovement device attached to a golf teeing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description of various embodiments, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of various aspects of the one or more embodiments.However, the one or more embodiments may be practiced without some orall of these specific details. In other instances, well-known proceduresand/or components have not been described in detail so as not tounnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.

While some embodiments are disclosed here, still other embodiments ofthe present disclosure will become obvious to those skilled in the artas a result of the following detailed description of embodiments of theinvention. The embodiments are capable of modifications of variousobvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure. The Figures, and their detailed descriptions, are tobe regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Also, thereference or non-reference to a particular embodiment of the inventionshall not be interpreted to limit the scope of protection.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a golf teeing device 910 may further beconnected to a lanyard 900, and a lanyard anchoring portion 905. Thelanyard anchoring portion 905, as shown, may be located on the undersideof the golf teeing device 910 and may be substantially at or near thecenter of the base portion 915. The underside of the golf teeing device910 may be generally described as the area between the golf teeingdevice 910 and the surface to be engaged when the golf teeing device 910is in use. It should be understood the lanyard anchoring portion may belocated anywhere on the golf teeing device 910, including, but notlimited to: the side(s); top, or extensions. As shown, the lanyardanchoring portion 905 may also comprise a lanyard anchoring portion hole930. The hole 930 is preferably aligned with hole 30, such that thelanyard anchoring portion hole 930 allows a standard tee 50 to pass,partially or (as shown) entirely through the anchoring portion 905. Thecombination of the lanyard anchoring portion 905 and lanyard 900 form agolf swing improvement device.

Preferably, the lanyard anchoring portion 905 does not have a hole, anda standard tee 50 is substantially prevented from passing through thelanyard anchoring portion 905. In this embodiment, the standard tee 50passes through hole 30 and stops when it contacts anchoring portion 905.This allows the standard tee 50 to rest loosely within the hole 30, suchthat when the standard tee 50 is struck by a golf club, it is free tofly out of hole 30 with minimal resistance and the golf teeing device910 remains in place on the surface.

The lanyard anchoring portion 905 is preferably constructed of a softpolymer such as plastic, but may comprise a hard polymer, a durablematerial, or any other material which may be capable of serving thepurpose of the lanyard anchoring portion 905.

The lanyard anchoring portion 905, as shown, may be substantiallycircular and may comprise a groove 907. The groove 907 may be positionedalong a circumference of the lanyard anchoring portion 905, and may beconfigured to engage loop 901 of lanyard 900. The groove 907 may belocated along a circumference or outer portion of the lanyard anchoringportion 905. The thickness and depth of the groove 907 may be such thata loop 901 of the lanyard 900 is able to rest matingly within groove907, thereby resisting being detached. In one embodiment, the lanyard900 may be elastic and therefore able to more securely engage thelanyard anchoring portion by stretching from a relaxed state to fit intothe groove 907.

The lanyard anchoring portion 905 may be a protrusion, indentation,ring, loop, catch, button, and/or snap that is configured to removeably,but securely engage the lanyard 900. Alternatively, the lanyard 900 maybe permanently attached to lanyard anchoring portion 905. The lanyard900 may be a cord, line, rope, string, twine, thread, cable, braiding,which is generally flexible, rigid, or elastic. The lanyard 900 may havetwo ends, a golf tee engagement end, which is typically a loop 901, asshown, and a ground anchor end. The ground anchor end may be configuredto removeably, securely, and/or permanently engage the ground, asurface, or a structure that keeps the lanyard 900, and therefore thegolf teeing device 910, from flying away in the event that a user hitsthe device 910 with a golf club during a swing.

The lanyard loop 901 may be formed by folding the end of the lanyard 900to a portion of the lanyard 900 not at the end of the lanyard 900 andsecuring the end of the lanyard 900 by a rigid binding 902 or otherbinding agent. The anchor end may have a similar type of loop, or mayend in another type of anchoring or attachment device.

An additional benefit of the lanyard 900 is that, when in use, thelanyard 900 may be laid out in the desired path of the swing. In thismanner, the lanyard 900 acts as a visual guide for the golfer,indicating one potential golf club swing path. This potential swing pathmay be adjusted to allow the golfer to practice various types of swings.

When the lanyard 900 is engaged on one end of the lanyard anchoringportion 905 and secured to the ground or other item at the other end,the lanyard 900 may assist the golfer in locating the golf teeing device910. Specifically, when the golfer strikes a golf ball positioned on atee mounted onto the golf teeing device 910 and if the golf teeingdevice 910 is struck or otherwise moved, the golf teeing device 910 maybe easy to locate due to being effectively secured to the ground via thelanyard 900.

In another embodiment, the lanyard anchoring portion 905 may be aseparate portion of the golf teeing device 910 or may be a seamlessextension of the golf teeing device 910.

Additionally, the lanyard 900 may act as a golf training aid. Forexample, the lanyard 900 may apply a directional force or secure thegolf teeing device 910 to a specific point. Additionally, the lanyard900 may provide the user with a point of reference which may allow theuser to visualize how to swing the golf club. By allowing a user tovisualize a directional path useful for swinging a golf club andstriking a golf ball, the user may then swing using a more efficientswing path than they may have performed otherwise. By applyingdirectional force to the golf teeing device 910, the user may cause thegolf teeing device 910 to be not level, and therefore allow the golferto practice different swings with a visual aid.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a bottom view of another embodiment of thegolf teeing device with a lanyard. As shown in FIG. 10, anotherembodiment of the golf teeing device 910 may comprise a lanyardanchoring portion 905, which may be engaged with loop 901 of lanyard900. The anchoring groove 907 may be located along a circumference orouter portion of the lanyard anchoring portion 905. The thickness anddepth of the groove 907 may be such that a looped end of the lanyard 900may be able to rest along the groove 907, thereby resisting beingdetached. In one embodiment, the lanyard 900 is elastic and thereforeable to more securely engage the lanyard anchoring portion by stretchingfrom a relaxed state to fit onto the groove 907. FIG. 10 also shows howhold 930 preferably aligns with hole 30, so as to allow a standard tee50 to engage with golf teeing device 910.

The elastic lanyard of the golf swing improvement device may allowgolfers to envision a host of alignment patterns in order to master golfswing fundamentals. For example, the device may allow golfers to developthe proper golf set up, swing path, practice drills, and more. The golfswing improvement device may improve the following aspects of a user'sgolf game.

-   -   1. Foot alignment    -   2. Target Line    -   3. Ball position    -   4. Impact zone    -   5. Swing path    -   6. Club positioning    -   7. Torso angle    -   8. Shoulder angle    -   9. Head position    -   10. Visual aiming reference    -   11. Hand and arm positioning

Some of the added benefits may be: Confidence at address; Shot accuracy;Distance control; Balance; Timing; Consistency; Strategy; Sequence;Rhythm; Visual reinforcement; and Learning how to shape different ballflights (draw, fade, high, low).

The golf swing improvement device may be employed in the followingmanners:

-   -   1. Lanyard attached to a single golf teeing device with golf tee        positioned through secondary eyelet and cinched underneath mat        for alignment and tether.    -   2. Lanyard attached to two or more golf teeing devices and        configured in various formations for simultaneous training        applications; affixed to synthetic mat and or real grass, dirt,        ice, and carpet.    -   3. Lanyard attached to golf tees and golf teeing devices used on        putting greens for innumerable putting drills (e.g. gate drill,        coin drill, distance drill, etc.)    -   4. Lanyard attached to any golf or non-golf product or object        (e.g. pencil, tree branch, golf clubs, golf shoe soft spikes,        shirt button, etc.)    -   5. Lanyards attached to golf teeing devices on putting green or        other inanimate objects and used for ball landing point (e.g.        chip, pitch, and sand trap drills)    -   6. Using the lanyard in a sand trap or bunker as a point of        impact reference and drill.    -   7. Using photos of lanyards on a smart phone or any electronic        device that provides golfers with a visual reference, advantage        and fundamental swing enabler.

The golf swing improvement device may employ a specific elastic lanyardthat is used to support its swing improvement and alignment trainingabilities. However, the lanyard may be any flexible and/or elasticlength of material, including, but not limited to: military grade 550cord, fishing lines, clothing articles such as hair ties, jewelry, shoelaces, tape, belts, or wires of any type, nylon strings, yarn, plasticstring, or any material that may be configured to attach to the golfteeing device. The lanyard may be looped or tied to the lanyardattachment portion, or they may be connected via another means,including, but not limited to, paper clips, clothes pins, alligatorclips, tape, glue, hook and loop material, or any adhesive product thatwould effectively connect the lanyard and the lanyard attachmentportion.

In one embodiment the golf swing improvement device is a lanyard that isattached to a golf teeing device, without a separate lanyard attachmentportion.

Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions,magnitudes, sizes, locations, and other specifications that are setforth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, areapproximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable rangethat is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with whatis customary in the art to which they pertain.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment has been presentedfor the purposes of illustration and description. While multipleembodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments will become apparentto those skilled in the art from the above detailed description, whichshows and describes illustrative embodiments. The embodiments may becapable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.Accordingly, the detailed description is to be regarded as illustrativein nature and not restrictive. Also, although not explicitly recited,one or more embodiments of the invention may be practiced in combinationor conjunction with one another. Furthermore, the reference ornon-reference to a particular embodiment of the invention shall not beinterpreted to limit the scope of the disclosure. It is intended thatthe scope of protection be not be limited by this detailed description,but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims that are appendedhereto.

Except as stated immediately above, nothing that has been stated orillustrated is intended or should be interpreted to cause a dedicationof any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage, orequivalent, to the public, regardless of whether it is or is not recitedin the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf swing improvement device comprising: alanyard anchoring portion; and a lanyard; wherein said lanyard isconfigured to engage with said lanyard anchoring portion; and whereinsaid lanyard anchoring portion is configured to couple with a golfteeing device.
 2. The golf swing improvement device of claim 1, whereinsaid lanyard comprises one or more loops such that said one or moreloops are configured to engage said lanyard anchoring portion.
 3. Thegolf swing improvement device of claim 2, wherein said lanyard anchoringportion is substantially circular and comprises a groove around acircumference outside portion of said lanyard anchoring portion; andwherein said groove is configured to matingly engage with said one ormore loops of said lanyard.